­Limitless 5: Limited by the Comparison Trap

 

Do you often compare yourself to others?

Our limitless God made us in His image. We are made to be limitless, but yet there are habits that will place limits upon your life.

The Comparison Trap is a destructive force. When we compare ourself to others we always lose.

If we truly want to live the limitless life we must avoid the comparison trap.

Hello and welcome to everyone watching and listening online, as well as to all of the beautiful people in the room. My name is Chris Fluitt and I welcome you to Redemption Church.

What kind of Church is Redemption? We are the kind of Church that connects to culture. We actively look for way to communicate the Gospel of Jesus to new generations. We will try to do this today.

LIMITLESS

In January of this year, 2018, we preached a sermon series called Limitless. #limitless2018

We want to take a few weeks to make sure you are still living a limitless life, by looking at some habits that limit ourselves. 

God is limitless! And we are made in the image of this limitless God. God has given you limitless power, love, wisdom, and riches. You are limitless!

Philippians 4:13 (KJV) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

We can do all things through Christ. Through Christ we are limitless. YET.. there are some habits and practices that will take us out of Christ and put limits on our life.

LIMITED

Redemption Church do you want to live in the limitless life of Christ? If we want to live in the limitless, we need to lay aside the weights & sins (Hebrews 12:1) that cause us to live under limits. 

One of these limiting practices is the Comparison Trap.

 COMPARISON TRAP

Do you ever catch yourself comparing yourself to others? Have you ever compared your finances to others?

* Your car & house?

* Your spouse, your kids?

* Your body, physical appearance?

* Your abilities to others?

* God’s blessings?

CHALLENGE

#1 Recognize how many times you compare yourself to others. How frequently do you compare?

#2 I want you to pay attention to how the comparison makes you feel? How do you feel about yourself? how do you feel about others?

 

When it comes to comparison, scripture is very direct in telling you not to do it.

Let’s look at some of these scriptures.

2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV2011) We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

We DARE NOT classify or compare ourselves… Classifying is the rating system that causes you to think of someone as 1st class, and that you are second class.. or that you are of a higher class than others… It is very destructive.

To measure & compare yourself by yourself is not wise. That’s like running a race all by yourself, and then after finishing the race, declaring yourself to be the fastest person alive. People like this always crown their own achievements and don’t think highly of others.

Galatians 6:4 (NIV2011) Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,

Pride is usually spoken of as something to avoid. There are a lot of scriptures that warn us about pride.